Method and Apparatus for Protecting Hair Style

ABSTRACT

A hat for protecting hair style, such as a hat that allows a person to maintain their hairstyle, curls, and/or volume, is disclosed.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/897,950, filed on Sep. 9, 2019, the entire teaching of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a hat for protecting hair style, and more particularly to a hat that allows a person to maintain their hairstyle, curls, and/or volume.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, a hat for maintaining hairstyle, curls, and/or hair volume is disclosed. The hat can be configured to allow a person to insert at least a portion of her head and/or hair into the hat to protect her hair from environmental factors that may alter and/or disturb her hair style.

Often times, individuals, especially those with textured or curse hair, wish to maintain their hairstyles while they are participating in activities, such as exercising, cooking, and/or sleeping. Embodiments disclosed herein provide a hat having two open ends. The first end of the hat is configured for insertion around the user's head. The second end of the hat can have an elastic insert that terminates with a drawstring that opens and closes in the second end of the hat and wraps around the hat. The hat can be configured such that once inserted over the user's head, at least a portion of the user's hair is covered by the hat. The drawstring can then secure the hat from the top and cover the user's hair. The hat can prevent the user's hair and allow users with coarse, curly, voluminous, or styled (flattened) hair to keep their curls, volume, and hair style, even after sleeping on them. The first end of the hat can also cover at least a portion of the user's forehead.

In one aspect, an elastic can be configured such that it comfortably adjusts the fit and/or grips the forehead, thereby providing a desirable shape and preventing the hair from slipping off at night and allowing it to stay on during the day.

In another aspect, a hat having two open ends is disclosed. The hat can comprise two ends, one of which is wrapped around the user's head and/or forehead and another end that remains open. This implementation allows the hair to be lifted up to preserve the volume and shape of curls.

Further, the hat disclosed herein can be worn multiple ways and provide multifunctionality. For example, the hat can be configured such that it can be used with or without the use of the string. Further, the hat can be worn as a scarf by being pushed down over the face of the user such that it covers the user's neck.

In yet another aspect, the body of the hat can provide a rounded wall that allows the user's hair to stand within the inside of the hat. The hat provides the coverage to protect the hair from damaging elements such as the harsh cold, UV rays, frizz, wind, and undesired smells.

The hat can comprise a satin lining. The lining can be configured to allow the hat to easily glide up and down when put on. This can prevent frizz and tangles that can be caused by environmental factors, such as friction. Further, the drawstring of the hat can provide complete coverage to the hair, thereby protecting it from damage. The drawstring can also close the hat and prevent the hat from flopping back. Further, the drawstring can wrap around the hat and provide an esthetically pleasing look and also hold the hat in place.

Additionally or alternatively, the hat can comprise a stretchy fabric that allows the hat to go through the head. Given the stretchy nature of the fabric, the hat can feature a small/narrow opening circumference that allows the hair to effectively stand up and prevents the hair from flopping down, thereby keeping the volume of the hair intact. The narrow circumference of the opening can also allow the hair to be retained inside of the hat and allowing the hair to stand in the hat.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention can become apparent from the following drawings and description, all of which illustrate the principles of the invention, by way of example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the invention described herein, together with further advantages, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead is generally placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

FIG. 1A illustrates a view of a hat according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 1B is an illustrative example of a suitable use with the hat shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is an illustrative example of a suitable use with the hat shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is an illustrative example of a suitable use with the hat shown in FIG. 1A.

disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A illustrates a view of a hat according to some embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2B is another illustrative example of the hat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A illustrates a hat 100 according to embodiments disclosed herein. As shown the hat can be configured as a body 101 having a first 163 and second opening 165. In order to wear the hat, a user inserts the hat over her hair 110 and face 130 such that it surrounds her neck 140. Once inserted, the hat can be pulled up in the direction of arrows, over the user's face 120 such that the hat 110 covers at least a portion of the user's hair 130. In this configuration, one end 163 of the hat 100 is disposed around the user's head (over her face 120). If desired, a portion of the user's hair 130 can extend out of the other opening 165 of the hat (FIG. 1B). The strings 150 of the hat can be pulled to close the first opening 165 and protect the hair 130 from the top.

As shown, in some embodiments, the hat 100 can be configured such that it covers the entire hair of the user (FIG. 1C-1D). For example, as shown in FIG. 1D, the string 150 can be configured to wrap around at least one portion of the hat and create an aesthetically pleasing look (for example by creating a bun 100B) on top of the other portion of the hat 100A.

FIGS. 2A and 2B also show the hat before (hat 100, FIG. 2A) and after (hat 100′, FIG. 2B) being work by a person. As shown, the first end 163 of the hat can be configured to include a style, such a pleating around the person's face and forehead. In addition to being more aesthetically pleasing, this can allow the hat to adjust to the person's head more easily. Further, the hat 100 can include an elastic material at the second opening 163 that allows the hat to comfortably adjusts the fit around the forehead and/or grip the forehead, thereby providing a desirable shape and preventing the hair from slipping off at night and allowing it to stay on during the day.

Further, the hat 100 can be worn multiple ways and provide multifunctionality. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1B-1D, the hat 100 can be configured such that it can be used with or without the use of the string. Further, the hat 100 can be worn as a scarf by being pushed down over the face 120 of the user such that it covers the user's neck 140 (FIG. 1A).

Moreover, the body of the hat 100 can comprise a satin lining. The lining can be configured to allow the hat to easily glide up and down when put on. This can prevent frizz and tangles that can be caused by environmental factors, such as friction. Further, the drawstring of the hat can provide complete coverage to the hair, thereby protecting it from damage. The drawstring 150 can also close the hat and prevent the hat from flopping back. Further, the drawstring 150 can wrap around the hat and provide an esthetically pleasing look and also hold the hat in place.

Additionally or alternatively, the hat 100 can comprise a stretchy fabric that allows the hat to go through the head. Given the stretchy nature of the fabric, the hat can feature a small/narrow opening circumference that allows the hair to effectively stand up and prevents the hair from flopping down, thereby keeping the volume of the hair intact. The narrow circumference of the opening can also allow the hair to be retained inside of the hat and allowing the hair to stand in the hat.

The exterior fabric of the hat 100 can be made with any suitable material, for example 95% bamboo and 5% spandex. Further, the hat 100 can comprise any fabric that stretches such as fabrics with spandex, jersey fabrics, etc. The lining of the hat can be made of satin polyester but can be made of any satin-like material such as silk, viscose, polyester, etc. The satin lining can comprise a stretch or/and non-stretchy material and can be for example 2-7 inches wider than the exterior fabric to allow space for the hat to go over the head comfortably and to leave room for voluminous hair, preventing the hair to become constrained. The total circumference of the exterior of the hat 100 can be approximately around the circumstance of average adult head (for example, about 20-24 inches). The length of the hat can be long enough to cover the length of the hair when the hat is put on. Elastic can be sewn onto the lining and exterior of the fabric. The drawstring 150 can be inserted in the lining of the hat and can be made of any stretchy of non-stretchy fabric or elastic, cord, etc.

The two open-end feature allows for the hat to be placed pass the head down to the neck then motioned directly up until the elastic end sits on the forehead and the drawstring end at the top terminating at the end of the user's hair. As opposed to traditional hats and bonnets that most women use to protect their hair which has a closed end and motions the hair from the top down causing it to flatten. The two open-end feature allows for the hair to be motioned from bottom-up, lifting the hair and maintaining its shape and volume.

The stretchiness of the fabric allows the hat to widen in order to pass through the head. The stretch fabric returns back to its original circumference creating a space narrow enough to allow the hat to stand up when the hair fills in the inside of the hat. If the circumference is too narrow it can constrain and comprise the shape of the hair and if it is too wide it can flop down causing the hair to flatten. When closed, the drawstrings also prevent the hat from flopping back.

The elastic comfortably fits adjusted and grips the forehead providing a desirable look and preventing the hat from slipping off at night and keeping it put during the day. Often headwraps and bonnets that women use at night to protect their hair for bed slip off at night. The elastic helps mitigate this issue and helps keep it on all day and night long without slipping down or off. The drawstring closes shut preventing the hat from flopping back. It wraps around the hat at the user's discretion, providing an aesthetically pleasing look and holding the hat in its place. When the drawstring is closed, it provides complete coverage to the hair protecting it from any damaging elements such as the sun, harsh cold, friction, and humidity. The hats satin also allows users to easily glide the hat up and down the head and prevents frizz causing friction to the hair.

In some embodiments, the end of the hat 163, 165 can be tubular ends that are oriented such that the second end 165 is vertically above the first end 163. Further, the hat 100 can be configured such that when the garment is placed over the entire head, the hat 100 rests on the neck with the first tubular end 165 on top. The garment is pulled up over the face by the first tubular end 165 until gathering of the first tubular end 165 rests above the eyebrows on the forehead, encapsulating the hair in a tube shape vertically above the head. Drawstring 150 is then tightened until tubular end 165 is completely shut, creating a protective enclosure for the hair against damaging exposure to the elements and while sleeping.

In some implementations, the Drawstring is configured such that it can be crossed at the midpoint of the hat 100 across the back seam (FIG. 1D). The drawstring 150 can be wrapped around to the front and tied into a knot at the midpoint of the hat to hold the hair in place inside the garment, preventing frizz-causing movement of the hair.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various changes can be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Although this specification discloses advantages in the context of certain illustrative, non-limiting embodiments, various changes, substitutions, permutations, and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the specification as defined by the appended claims. Further, any feature described in connection with any one embodiment may also be applicable to any other embodiment. 

1. A garment comprising: a first opening configured for placement around at least a portion of a person's head; a body; and a second opening separated from the first opening via the body; wherein the body is configured to cover at least a portion of the person's hair and protect the person's hair style.
 2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a drawstring configured to close the second end of the body.
 3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the drawstring is configured to wrap around the body of the garment.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to completely cover the person's hair
 5. The garment of claim 1, further comprising an interior lining configured to contact the person's hair.
 6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the interior lining comprises satin.
 7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the body comprises an elastic material.
 8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first opening comprises an elastic configured to secure the garment against the person's head.
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first opening is configured to surround at least a portion of the person's forehead.
 10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the second opening is configured to be vertically spaced from the first opening via the body when worn by the person. 